Front panel audio not detected

dancagley · August 9, 2014

Having issues with my front panel audio not being detected. It has been like this since I built my computer. I have checked all the of the connections and everything is plugged in properly. I have a MSI Z87-G45 mobo, case is Corsair 300r. I've run MSI LiveUpdate and all drivers are up to date. Does anyone know what the hell the problem could be?

Side note: Yes the rear audio works fine and I could use a splitter for headphones/speakers, but i noticed it degraded the audio of my headphones while gaming.

I hope someone can help me! This is annoying as shit!

NannerBeans · August 9, 2014

If it's plugged in and not working there's just something wrong with it. Nothing you can do short of sending it back to the manufacturer which isn't worth it imo for front panel audio.

dancagley · August 9, 2014

Maybe the hdaudio wire isn't plugged in properly?

Did you check the BIOS if it wasn't set to AC'97 instead of hdaudio?

explain this to me a little? im not an audio guy. also where in the bios?

Sors · August 10, 2014

There is a small switch inside the front headphone jack of all cases, and that is what the system uses to know when you have plug anything in them. Is very possible that the switch is defective, and that is why the system never recognizes that you plug a device.

There's also a function in many motherboards to disable the detection, so it always sends sound to the front and back jacks at the same time, no matter if the switch is activated or not.

I would call the manufacturer of your case, and ask if they could send you a replacement board for the front connectors instead of returning the whole case.

NannerBeans · August 10, 2014

On the motherboard there's a connector, usually in the bottom right, there's a cable running from the front panel saying HDAUDIO you need to plug in there, make sure to check it's facing the right way, there's one pin missing so it only works one way.

Not sure I can help you about the BIOS, the BIOS is different for every motherboard.. basically shere should be some option like "front panel mode" or something similar that can either be AC'97 or HDAUDIO, make sure it's HDAUDIO.

If he doesn't know what it is it's pretty unlikely he switched it. I actually never even knew that existed.